Events

Join the Minnesota JCC for a special yoga session led by Jody Rappaport, honoring the memory of Carmel Gat, an Israeli occupational therapist and yoga practitioner who was taken hostage from her home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, and killed after 11 months in captivity. Carmel was known for her compassion, her dedication to helping others, and her love of yoga and meditation. While in captivity, she taught fellow hostages meditation and yoga exercises as a way to help them cope with the difficult circumstances. Carmel, 40, was kidnapped from her parents’ home in Kibbutz Be’eri and murdered by Hamas after surviving 11 months in captivity. Her body was recovered and brought back to Israel on August 31, 2024, by IDF soldiers, along with the bodies of five other hostages. The bodies were found in a tunnel approximately 20 meters underground in the Rafah area. The hostages had been shot and killed by their captors’ hours before they were found, after Hamas observers spotted Israeli forces approaching. Carmel was the daughter of Eshel and Kinneret, who was murdered during the Hamas attack on October 7, and the sister of Or and Alon. She was an occupational therapist, and her loved ones described her as compassionate and loving, always looking for ways to support and help others. Carmel loved traveling alone, meeting new people, going to rock concerts, and listening to Radiohead. Hostages who were held with her described her as a “guardian angel.” As a way of coping with captivity, she taught them meditation and yoga exercises. Carmel was laid to rest next to her mother, Kinneret, in Kibbutz Be’eri. Her brothers, Or and Alon, said in her eulogy: “You are a symbol of the struggle and a symbol of healing. You touched so many people during your life, and after you were kidnapped, you touched the hearts of people around the world.” A few days after her funeral, her family released a video of her from Hamas captivity. In the video, she spoke about the difficult conditions and how much she missed home: “Dear family, until this nightmare is over, I will stay strong for you. I love you.” FREE | Registration Requested | Open to All Ages Questions? Email Elinor at gro.ccjatosennimobfsctd-281cad@mronile.    

RITA is a powerful new documentary that follows Nova festival survivor Rita Yididion on a deeply personal journey from trauma toward healing, proving that even after profound darkness, we can transform pain into purpose. Presented by Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Israel Center & Sponsored by The Twin Cities Jewish Film Festival.

Join the St. Paul Jewish Federation and come together as a community for a brief and meaningful ceremony of remembrance. We will gather for a memorial candle lighting and prayers as we honor the lives lost and hold their families and loved ones in our hearts. All are welcome. Location will be provided with Registration

Join us for a Beyond Our Walls outing to Theater Latté Da for Indecent, Paula Vogel’s acclaimed, klezmer-infused play about artists who risked everything to bring Sholem Asch’s controversial Yiddish drama God of Vengeance to the stage. Inspired by the true story of the play and its 1923 obscenity trial, Indecent explores censorship, queer love, Jewish identity, nationalism, and the courage to tell stories that challenge us. Following the performance, stay for a special post-show conversation with members of the cast and creative team. Beyond Our Walls connects our community with exceptional Jewish cultural experiences throughout the Twin Cities, bringing us together through theater, music, film, visual art, and more.  $36 – Limited Capacity Ticket scholarships are available for those who may need financial assistance. Contact Risa at gro.ccjatosennimobfsctd-70bb49@casir. 

We are honored to welcome a local Lone Soldier who served in the Israeli Air Force. She will share what motivated her to leave the comfort of Minnesota to serve in an elite unit, where she was on October 7, and how she worked to defend and protect Israel in the aftermath. Friends of the Lone Soldier, in partnership with the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin, is dedicated to supporting Lone Soldiers (those who go to Israel without family and those who grew up in Israel but have no family to return to). Through housing, meals, mental health resources, community programs, and ongoing support, they provide a home and community for Lone Soldiers from one year before their service through five years after their service. Presented in partnership with Friends of the Lone Soldier. $25 – Register by October 2 Questions? Contact Irit at gro.ccjatosennimobfsctd-5e2e82@vtiri.

The Minnesota JCC Symphony Orchestra invites audiences of all ages to experience beloved lush melodies and vivid legends depicted in Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Hiawatha Suite and the joyful spirit of community found in the Debbie Friedman Suite. Filled with memorable tunes, colorful characters, and musical adventures, this family-friendly concert is the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the excitement of a live orchestra while sharing an inspiring afternoon of stories told through music. Discover how melodies can spark the imagination, bring generations together, and create memories that last long after the final note.  NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED  For questions, contact Risa Cohen at gro.ccjatosennimobfsctd-2c0a42@casir. Presented by the Marvin J. Pertzik Jewish cultural arts department, which is generously supported, in part, by Minnesota JCC Endowment Funds.